UPDATE:
While exploring a different issue, I discovered something about the Venom V16 that IS NOT advertised by Shunyata and apparently is a fantastic feature. It has their CGS grounding tech. The distributor has the copper ground socket just like their higher and highest tier power distributors!
Now, I had built a grounding box for a custom cable, but now I think I will build a grounding box for the Venom V16.
Review Shunyata Venom V16 Power Distributor
I know I am new here, but I wanted to share my
experience.
I just got the newly released Shunyata Venom V16 power distributor. I also
acquired the Shunyata Reference line Delta v2 XC C19 cable to power it. I also purchased the optional SSF-38 shock
absorbing feet. This is replacing Audioquest’s Powerquest 3 linear filter power
strip. I know, it’s quite a large jump.
I still have a few more days of burn-in to truly get critical, but right off
the bat, day one, this product obliterated the Audioquest’s gains. The sound
stage expanded to a degree where the desktop speakers vanished. You could be staring straight at the speaker
and swear it wasn’t on. It created a
sound “bubble” in the space where sound appeared to travel in three dimensions.
The micro details became louder and had more depth. High notes carried further. Piano notes had
even more realistic metallic reverb. You could definitively hear when a piano
key was struck harder than another. You
can hear the shuffle of the player's feet as they work the pedals. Mid-bass
tones/instruments no longer affect vocals, as the singer's voice was separate. Words are
clear, concise, and sound more life-like.
In older songs, you can hear track hiss get louder as a new track is
being added into the song. The bass got tighter and more forceful. Then there was the emergence of new bass rhythms that
I hadn't heard before in some songs.
Here is the system I am currently using.
Speakers:
Audioengine A2+
Audioengine S8 subwoofer.
The A2+ is being powered by Kimber Kable Summit Palladian
The S8 subwoofer is being powered by Kimber Kable Ascent
I am running these through an Acer Helios 300 Predator using Foobar2000 via
USB:
Audioquest FMJ Jitterbug
Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt
Audioquest Yosemite
From the A2+ I am running Synergistic Research’s Foundation RCA interconnects
to the S8 subwoofer.
From A2+’s powered speaker to the passive speaker, I am running a vintage,
modified Audioquest CV-4 using their Suregrip 500 series banana plugs.
The laptop is running Shunyata Research’s Venom V14 Digital cable. I am also
using Audioquest’s NRG Edison power socket and PS Audio’s Noise Harvester.
A few months ago, I had a full Audioquest loom, using their NRG X,Y, and Z product line. Audioquest refuses to allow their higher end power cable line to have C5 and C7 connectors. As a result, I became somewhat disappointed
in Audioquest. It was as if you only get a real glimpse of what they offer if
you buy their top-most products and they limit you on what areas you can upgrade. Anything
beneath that line is essentially a “broken” version of their better cable, in order to ensure it doesn’t sound superior to
the model above it. This led me to seek out other manufacturers. I discovered
that even though other companies like, Kimber Kable, Shunyata Research
and Synergistic Research also diminish their lower product lines, they don’t do
so by damaging the audio signal. They
typically reduce the amount of tech, but still use their best technical
advances so as not to hurt the signal on purpose. In other words, Audioquest breaks their
promise of, “Do no harm.” That doesn’t
mean I dislike all Audioquest products.
As you can see, I still have some of their product line within this setup and will keep it in
the system. Besides, I like having a varying degree of manufacturers to balance
all the different “house” sounds. :)
In about a week or so, I am changing out
the AQ Yosemite and AQ CV-4 for Synergistic Research’s Foundation cables. This way I will have a full loom in the
direct audio chain.
I have to say, folks have underestimated the A2+, they are extremely well engineered. :)
Showing 10 responses by guakus
They aren't using materials that are specifically designed to destroy the signal. In the Foundation line, their lowest, is using silver conductors, air dielectric and their matrix shielding. They didn't add brass connectors, Polyethylene insulation, or add non-conductive additives to ensure a loss in signal strength. Synergistic used their most basic foundation materials. The higher tier adds active elements and more gauge and more geometry to the wire. Hence they broke nothing at the lower level. Audioquest on the other hand uses inferior products in their lower line to purposely dull the singal...like "Long Grain Copper," "Purple Copper" and "Spray Foam Polyethylene." |
@millercarbon Thanks! I was very excited to have this. It seems Shunyata hadn't sent out any review product for folks to review. I had been in constant contact with someone at Shunyata before I got it, so I had the inside scoop; so-to-speak. Since these discussion boards are searchable in any search engine, I thought it was a good idea to write up a review. :) |
@femoore12 Thanks! After about a month of use, it has settled in and performance is consistent. There is however something that it does not protect against and that is ground loop noise from ungrounded or poorly grounded devices. I am an illustrator and sometimes I use a light table or my electric eraser. When I use the light table, it makes a loud popping noise on the speakers. The electric eraser also makes noise on the speakers when I use it. These are ungrounded, and both are on the 2nd zone away from the power cables that power the speakers. So the Venom V16 will not protect against those types of devices if they are connected. To be fair, this happened on the Audioquest Powerquest 3 as well. It was even worse because those tools were connected to a power strip that was connected to the Powerquest. Also, I had a Panasonic Point-O-Matic pencil sharpener that does have a ground that also made noise on the line when in use. So I moved it to a different socket. It seems I should do the same with the light table and eraser, but there are no sockets near there and I use these at the same drawing table (the pencil sharpener doesn’t need to be by the drawing table.) |
@millercarbon I have not tested the Venom V16 with its original feet vs the optional feet. Largely because when I set it up, the system needed to burn in, so doing any sound comparisons would have been skewed. The second problem will be the delicate wiring situation I have going on. I have all cables balanced just right on risers and in positions where they don't touch each other. Pulling the unit out of its small shelf would wreck my current wire setup :(. If the option comes up where I am forced to reposition the unit and or cables, I will take that opportunity to test it out. :) |
@femoore12 The fan and desk lamp I used to help burn in the Venom V16 (per the recommendation of the Shunyata rep) are ungrounded and had no effect on the speakers. In regards to the Point-O-Matic and the Steaedtler Electric Eraser, I think it has something to do with mechanical electric noise, versus standard electrical noise. I seem to remember reading something about the effect electrical mechanical noise has on an electrical line. For example, how you could turn on a blender in the kitchen, and the speakers in your living room receive a hum. Sadly, I am renting this house and can't make changes to the wiring. I requested, at the time, to be able to change out the electric sockets themselves and was granted that. If it comes to pass that we are allowed to buy this house, I will reconsider re-wiring because it is an older house and the ground wires are all aluminum. |
UPDATE: I contacted Shunyata to discuss what they thought about the devices connected that were making the noise on the system and the answer I got back was intriguing and new to me. It seems that some devices when "off" or not in use are still drawing power. Phone/device chargers are never "off" and are constantly drawing power waiting for the device to be connected to complete the circuit. Two of the lamps that were connected both have this type of switch. One actually has a USB device charger built in. The other uses the exact same type of transformer as a USB charger. The Steadtler Electric eraser was also drawing power. It's on switch is spring loaded and only activates while the button is depressed. I also had a USB hub connected. It was advised to disconnect all those devices and have them on a socket not connected to Venom V16. Not just because of noise. But because those devices were leeching power that could be used to power the speakers and amps. Sure enough, I disconnected all those devices as instructed. I had the speakers going while I was doing this, and once I pulled the lamp and USB hub specifically, the sound got louder. Which was weird; it could have been my imagination, but after all things were removed, the sound quality was richer and louder. The computer and monitor are on Zone 2 and the Sub and Speaker are on Zone 1. That's all that is currently plugged in. The monitor was more bright and vivid. I had to have my wife verify. So, does that mean that the more devices that are plugged into the Venom V16, the lower the power output or lower the quality. *shrug*? Possibly. |
@millercarbon |
@gbmcleod |
@tattooedtrackman |